Tempers flare as Trenton mayor closes public meeting

Trentonian Photo/L.A. PARKER
Police had to be called to City Hall on Tuesday to subdue the growing anger among citizens who came to have a public meeting with the mayor, only to see it changed to one-on-one meetings instead.

TRENTON — Sparks flew, tempers flared and the police were summoned as a city leader went into hiding during Tuesday’s “Ask the Mayor” session at City Hall.

Mayor Tony Mack attempted to address concerns of residents who turned violent when his last-minute decision to convert a weekly round table meeting into a private one-on-one conversation, excluding members of the press, infuriated those who were in attendance. Outraged civic leaders and city residents attempted to storm into Mack’s office, pushing his aide, Anthony Roberts, who tried to shut the door to the office while Mack looked on through the crack between his office door and the wall.

“He did not (previously) express that this is a one-on-one meeting,” said Police Director Ralph Rivera Jr, who joined his first responders to the Mayor’s office for assistance with the unruly resident. “This is why he wants to bring in people one at a time.”

Rivera agreed that community members had a reason to be upset at the last-minute plan to limit access to troubled city leader, who was indicted on federal corruption charges late last week. However, Rivera and Sgt. John Breese, who spoke to the mayor and his staff behind closed doors, told those present that the mayor would not come back into the conference room.

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The sparring event between Mack and his constituents is the latest blemish on his administration. Self-appointed mayoral aid and press contact Paul Harris tried to subdue the unruly and angry residents who were confused as to what happened and why the mayor was in hiding.

“He is meeting with everyone one-on-one, so who would like to meet with him in his office?” asked Harris. But the option to meet behind closed doors was not sufficient for some city residents.

“Public means that the public is involved and everyone hears what everybody says, you are not saying something in isolation,” said one outraged citizen. “When you say something in isolation, it means it is secret, and that is something we have too much here in Trenton and in government,” he continued.

One resident, who did take the opportunity to meet with Mack behind closed doors, offered a gentler view of the mayor. “I asked him about the letter he sent to Obama and the statue,” said the resident. “He said the statue was paid for by donations and that he will reveal a new police safety plan on Friday.” The young man said the mayor did not seem to be flustered by the events and gave him five minutes of undivided attention.

David Panton, an East Ward resident, had secured a seat close to where the mayor was anticipated to be seated, at the conference table. Panton was furious that the criteria for the meeting had changed to a private individual conversation with his honor versus an open forum. “I came here to ask the Mayor to resign,” said Panton. “He needs to get out of office, I’ve been asking for him to get out of office since 2010.”

Panton asked Paul Harris to share his message with Mack before the outraged resident stormed out of the conference room.

As tempers rose and police worked to keep citizens calm, there was one attack that left a physical scar on one of the mayor’s administrators, Robert Mendez. During the confusion to keep residents out of the Mayor’s office, Mendez received a scratch that drew blood on his right hand. “When they were coming in it just happened,” said Mendez as he showed off the gash on the back of his right hand. “I don’t know (who did this), there were just so many of them.”

When asked if the semi-violent attack could have been avoided if the mayor had attended the open forum meeting, as originally planned, Harris said, “That’s not the point, the point is this is the mayor’s office and regardless how you feel about the mayor … would this type of behavior be accepted at the statehouse? Would residents try to bum rush Governor Christie’s office or President Obama’s office?”

Harris’ frustrations were revealed when he appealed to the press asking if the attack was necessary. “People refused to let the mayor close his own door. I wanted to point this out to you. All we ask is respect to be given and it will give back to you.”